Houston Symphony Kicks Off Free Summer Concerts Series Today

The Houston Symphony kicks off the summer with a sensational line-up of FREE concerts, including an expanded 10 performances around Houston as part of its Summer Neighborhood Concert Series, 5 performances as part of the ExxonMobil Summer Symphony Nights at Miller Outdoor Theatre, and the free July 3rd performance at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

This summer's activity follows a wildly successful Centennial Season, and underscores the organization's expanded commitment to community relevance in its next century. Focusing on a wide range of recognizable entertainment, these summer concerts bring fun, family-friendly programs out into the Greater Houston area, encouraging audiences to experience the live sights and sounds of the orchestra first hand.

As Executive Director/CEO Mark Hanson often says, "We're not just the Houston Symphony, we are Houston's Symphony!"

Each summer, the orchestra packs up its instruments and equipment and hits the road to perform free concerts within the community, at locations such as schools, community centers and churches. This year, the institution is taking strides to deliver music to new and diverse communities within Greater Houston, including a visit to the Chinese Community Center, churches such as Windsor Village United Methodist and Wheeler Avenue Baptist, and venues serving Houston's Hispanic community including Ripley House Neighborhood Center in Houston's historic east end.

Here in our incredible, multi-cultural city, we have more commonalities than differences. Just as each individual is the culmination of experiences and influences, so too is orchestral music a blend of musical sounds and ideas that stem from a vast variety of cultures, many of which are represented right here in Houston. This year's Neighborhood Concert programs celebrate these diverse musical contributions that together, reflect our city, and that have influenced the magnificent sound of music that the Houston Symphony and orchestras across the world perform every day.

Also included at each performance is the ever-popular instrument petting zoo. This hands-on interactive activity allows children and adults of all ages to touch, play, tinker with and try out instruments that represent each of the orchestra's instrument families.

For more than seventy years, the Houston Symphony has thrilled Houstonians with live performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Sponsored in part by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, these concerts are free and open to the public. This summer, Houstonians can hear great classical music under the stars on June 20, 21, 27 and 28, in addition to the annual July 4th Star-Spangled Salute concert. Admission is free, but tickets are required for the seated area. Visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com for more information.

About the Houston Symphony: During the current 2013-14 Season, the Houston Symphony celebrates its 100th year as one of America's leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring and recording activities. In the upcoming 2014-15 Season, the orchestra begins its next century under the direction of Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the organization's first Hispanic music director and 15th overall. The Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas whose inaugural performance was held at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an annual operating budget of $30.7 million, the full-time ensemble of 87 professional musicians is the largest performing arts organization in Houston, presenting more than 286 performances for 300,000 people, including 82,000 children, annually. For tickets and more information, visit www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.